TKH reacts to Erdoğan over 'defense pact': Unacceptable

The Communist Movement of Turkey (TKH) has released a statement regarding the Joint Defense Agreement signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.

In the statement, it was noted that the agreement carries a danger that could drag our country into war, and it was stated: “This pact is a military and political alliance planned by US imperialism and designed with a sectarian understanding; it is an alliance agreement that is incompatible with our country's full independence and contrary to our national interests.”

Emphasizing that the AKP is not a domestic and national party of our country, the statement noted the following:

“The agreement made with two countries that finance terrorism and are in a de facto state of war with their own neighbors is wrong, not only because of the risks it poses to our country but also as a policy of polarization that threatens regional peace. With its sectarian and, more importantly, pro-American foreign policy, the AKP has once again shown that it is not a ‘national and domestic’ party of our country.”

In the statement published by the TKH under the title “This agreement carries the risk of dragging our country into war: No to sectarian and pro-American foreign policy!”, the following expressions were included:

“The “Joint Defense Agreement” signed between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan is an agreement contrary to our country's interests. It is not clear against which common enemy or what kind of attack risk this agreement was signed, and it poses a danger that could drag our country into a war at any moment.

Pakistan’s unresolved, serious territorial, military, and political problems with India and Afghanistan are evident. In the face of the reality of Pakistan, which waged war on Afghanistan just yesterday and is at war with India over the Kashmir region, signing such a “joint defense pact” makes it inevitable that our country will become part of a potential and high-risk war.

Similarly, while Saudi Arabia is in a direct state of war with Yemen and it is a fact that attacks on Iran are being carried out from US bases located on its territory, our country establishing a joint defense pact with Saudi Arabia brings to the agenda the danger of our country being dragged into war.

The agreement in question has nothing to do with regional defense, stability, or the fight against terrorism. Because the whole world knows who has been supporting and financing Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorism for years. In the face of the fact that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are direct regional actors of proxy wars under the guidance of US imperialism, our country establishing a pact beyond military cooperation with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia carries great risks and dangers for our country.

The agreement in question is not any commercial or military cooperation agreement. The agreement stipulates that “an armed attack against any of the three states shall be considered an attack against all of them.” Such an agreement means that our country will also enter the war in the wake of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, which are currently in a state of war.

This situation is unacceptable. The war that US imperialism and Zionist, occupying Israel started together against Iran has not reached its goals, and now, by wanting the interests of imperialism and Israel to be protected by Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, a military pact has been established against Iran, which resists imperialism, and in a way that will encircle Iran.

It is a great deception that this pact was established against Israel’s regional policies, goals, and intentions. Likewise, it is illogical to market it as a step taken by the AKP to balance the cooperation between Israel, Southern Cyprus, and Greece. Such statements, which aim to manipulate domestic public opinion, should be avoided.

This pact is a military and political alliance planned by US imperialism and designed with a sectarian understanding; it is an alliance agreement that is incompatible with our country's full independence and contrary to our national interests. This development is nothing more than the imperialist US plan to create a “Sunni bloc” against “Shiite Iran.” This agreement is a manifestation of the AKP’s sectarian foreign policy.

The fact that today, let alone cooperation, a “joint defense pact” agreement is signed with Saudi Arabia, which it accused of “murder” due to the Khashoggi murder until just yesterday, sufficiently shows that the AKP is not a pragmatic but a spineless party.

The fact that Turkey’s inclusion in this pact was done as a fait accompli directly by the decision of President Erdoğan, rather than by a decision of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, carries a problem of law and legitimacy.

Why imperialists want a kingdom-like one-man regime should also be seen by everyone.

Our country’s security and the region’s stability and peace depend on Turkey’s relations of peace and friendship with its neighboring countries. The agreement made with two countries that finance terrorism and are in a de facto state of war with their own neighbors is wrong, not only because of the risks it poses to our country but also as a policy of polarization that threatens regional peace.

With its sectarian and, more importantly, pro-American foreign policy, the AKP has once again shown that it is not a “national and domestic” party of our country.

Peace in the Middle East and the security of our country depend on saying no to the interests and plans of imperialism, and on relations of friendship and cooperation with our neighbors.

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey must not approve this agreement. It is not enough for this step, which will put our country at serious risk, to be approved in the AKP-controlled Parliament; it must be submitted to a popular vote.

No to war, war pacts, American interests, and sectarian foreign policy!”

News Source: 12punto